A/N: Hi. Thanks to those of you who reviewed. This chapter is a little boring. Mia is not actuallly in it but I wanted to get a scene where Michael isn't with her. Please tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: I don't own the plot or the chracters. They all belong to the brilliant Meg Cabot.

I woke up the next morning to find myself caught back in the life of my crazy, paranoid, lovable family.I decided to go back to my flat despite my mother's protests. I couldn't stay another minute in that house.

My darling sister would not stop talking on her next segment of Lilly Tells It Like It Is. She kept going on and on about some infectious ear fungal disease that made me want to throw up. Then Kenny(I don't care if he wants me to call him Kenneth. It's not happening in my mind)came over and they disappeared into her room. They were still in there when I left too. All I can say is that I hope they're not trying to have sex when they are actually occupying the same house as my psychoanalyst parents. Who by the way were treating me more like a patient than their son. I didn't think I could endure another session of of their self pity. I really didn't need to hear thing such as, "Well, how do you feel about this Michael?" or "Is she still on your mind Michael?" or "You know there are other fish in the sea Michael."

I have to admit, the last one was rudely added on my mother's part. Lilly had so cleverly told them of my plans to meet with Mia later and I found it very hard to ignore the looks they kept shooting at each, and not to mention me (though I ignored them), other across the table. So right after I finished by toast, I was out the door and hailing a taxi. I used a rented car in Japan and hadn't yet gotten around to picking out a car that would impress Mia.

Back at my flat, where my luggage already was, I busied myself unpacking. Then Boris came over because he wanted to see the flat that he was going to be living in next year while he waited for a single to open up at Julliard. He seemed pretty impressed and wouldn't stop thanking me. Well it's the least I could do for him considering that he kept an eye on Mia for me and convinced her to start replying to my emails while I was in Japan. It's pretty surprising how close Boris and I have gotten when we were on different continents. Then again, he was in my old band.

He also heard about my plans with Mia. From Tina of course.

"So, Mike, are you planning on doing anything?"

"What do you mean? Isn't inventing a robotic surgical arm sufficient?"

"You know I'm talking about Mia."

"I don't know what to do Boris. She just seemed so attached to JP in all the pictures and newspaper articles. I mean, she did show up yesterday which was a bit of a surprise, but I don't even know why. Lilly said she doubts that is was because of the Atom."

"Ya. Tina seemed on the verge of telling me something when we went out last night. Did you know she was there too?"

Now this made something click.

"Tina was there? Why? Did anyone else go?"

"Umm…ya. Lana, Trisha, and Shameeka too."

Whoa. This made me sit upright. Until then I was slouching on the plush velvet sofa (I didn't design the place. The furniture was already there when I came and seeing as I had none of my own, I left it there) drinking soda. Now the soda was all over the floor.

"Hang on a minute. Slow down. Why were they all there? Lilly said she only gave two press passes! Why did Mia bring everybody?"

Boris looked slightly disturbed at my outburst. "I don't know. All Tina told me was that they went with Mia to Columbia so that she could write something for the paper."

"But why everybody? Mia already has a bodyguard. She doesn't need four more."

"Five. You forgot Tina's bodyguard."

"Arggghhh! I spend 21 months in Japan and girls are still hard to understand? Why did Mia bring all her . . . . . . . . . . ."

My voice trailed off as a new revelation came to me.

"Of course," I whispered for some reason.

"What is it Mike? Don't leave me hanging."

"Earth to Mike..."

"Boris, what if Mia didn't want to come? What if it's the opposite of what we're thinking?"

"Mike, what are you talking about? Mia was there."

"What if they dragged Mia there? They wanted to see the ex-boyfriend. Not Mia."

I sank back on the couch and groaned. I know Mia. She hates confronting people. So why on earth would she want to go?

"Well it's possible. But you don't know for sure. I mean maybe she really wanted to see you." Boris's voice dragged back to the conversation.

"Anyways, I gotta go. I need to practice for my senior project presentation."

"Oh ya. I forgot. Carnegie Hall right? Wow Boris. You've expanded. Remember when we used to lock you in the closet?"

"Oh very funny. It still happens. Anyways, you can come if you want. It's on Thursday. Well, see ya."

"Ya. Bye." I said as I pulled myself off the couch. Boris took one last look around the place before he said,

"You've done pretty good you know. You have a pretty good chance." And before I could ask what he meant, he was out the door. Gee thanks Boris. Great help. I shouldn't say that. He was a good guy. At least he hated JP for me when I wasn't there.

Stretching, I looked at the clock. 11:30. Wait a second. 11:30? 11:30! I need to get ready to meet Mia! You can't be late this time Mike! I had so much to do. What should I wear? Should I go sports jacket or tight t-shirt...or should I go for a casual tux? The tux would impress her. Or would that look like I'm trying too hard? Probably the t-shirt. She'll see your muscles. Oh and with some nice fitting jeans. Groaning, I grabbed a towel and dashed off towards the bathroom.

On my way, I spotted something lying on the kitchen counter. It was a gold envelope. Inside it said,

Her Royal Highness

Dowager Princess

Clarisse Marie Grimaldi Renaldo

requests the pleasure of your company

at a soiree to celebrate the eighteenth birthday of

Her Royal Highness

Princess Amelia Mignonette

Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo

on Monday the First of May

at seven o'clock in the evening

at South Street Seaport. Pier Eleven

The Royal Genovian Yacht

Clarisse 3

Yeesh. What a mouthful. Something tells me that Mia did not plan this. I only had till Monday to figure out the perfect gift? I could do it. I mean I remember our first date when I had to scrath the whole planand redo it because Mia had to go to some ball thing and could only come later. Then she got me moon rocks. And then she...

Ahhh Mike! Your date. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!

I was not going to be late. Not this time. Pausing for a fraction of a second, I took the snowflake necklace out of my pocket and hung it on the mirror in the bedroom. A reminder of what I was fighting for.

A/N. A little cheesy I know. Please tell me what you think. Any type of review is welcome.